Hi All

My trusty old Fiesta (97P) has failed its MOT.

Small items 3 brake hoses, but it also needs a new steering rack. I knew about the latter and I can live with that.

The big one though is the emissions, I have had people suggest it could be the "Cat" or the O2 sensor but I am unsure what to do.

Fast idle test CO% VOL FAILED (ACTUAL 0.557) LIMIT 0.300% HC PASSED AND LAMDBA PASSED

Second Fast idle test CO% VOL FAILED (ACTUAL 0.473) LIMIT 0.300%

Natural idle test CO% VOL FAILED (ACTUAL 0.383) LIMIT 0.500%

It going to cost a bit of cash to put right, and the car is worth £600 tops so economically it’s not worth it, but the car in every other respect is great.

If I can get it through the emissions I know I can cope with the expense of the steering rack and hoses, advice needed really guys

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I'd ask for a quote from a local garage to do all the work and find out how much a newer car car with 12 months MOT will cost you. Maybe a newer fiesta.

I'd suggest that a fiesta with 12months MOT can be had for under 1k, so if your car is only worth 600 it's probably time to sell it for spares/repair and change to a newer car.

Of course if you're handy with a spanner that's a different matter but steering racks, 02 sensors and cats are not cheap parts.

This is a tricky balancing act. Fixing those faults will almost certainly cost more than the car is worth, but if it's otherwise reliable and the shell is solid, fix those and it'll probably go for several years with nothing much more than service and consumables. Buy a "new" one like suggested, and you might have spent out several hundred notes and be back where you are now a year later again.

Having seen your Fiesta Tony, I'd suggest it would be worth repairing.

It is in exceptional condition, and would be worth more than normal when mot'd, and given the rising cost of fuel will command a premium price if for sale.

In the end I am afraid the Fiesta has now gone and will be replaced on Sunday by a VW product:)

It was a difficult choice but I got my money out of the car and had 3 years of happy motoring out of her. Such a good little car and will be missed.

Will post a picture of the replacement next week, but its very nice:)

My new second car.....

VW POLO 1.4 16V

The Fiesta was a better drive but this does seem more robust ( apart from the gearbox.....)

Full service next week.

65k

Makes a nice noise as well:)

Clean and tidy looking Polo, Tony.

I have always been a Polo fan, although that particular model was hit with the ugly stick, mine was unburstable though.